The State of Philanthropy: Regional Expectations vs. Capacity

Moderator:

William Martin has served as President of AFP-Southeastern in 2016, and has been a member of the Board since December 2010.  After leading his own firm, Jericho Resources, Inc., for nearly 16 years, William was recently recruited by the Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) to serve as its Business & Community Engagement Director and become the first Senior Program Officer for the WHEDA Foundation, which has awarded nearly $23 million in grants since its establishment.

Presenters & Panelists:

Anne Chapman

Anne Chapman is a Researcher with the Public Policy Forum with a focus on K-12 education issues, arts and culture, and local government finance, and helped lead the development of its report, Back on Track: The State of the Nonprofit Sector in Metro Milwaukee.  Before joining the Forum in August 2012, Anne worked as a Legislative Program Analyst at the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau.  She also served as Community Impact Manager for United Way of Salt Lake and Community Development Agent with the United States Peace Corps.

Susan Lloyd

Susan Lloyd directs the Zilber Family Foundation. The Foundation awards grants to nonprofits that address basic human needs, increase access to opportunity, and improve the quality of community life. In 2008 the Foundation began an Initiative to support local leaders and neighborhood groups as they develop and carry out plans for comprehensive community improvement. Previously, Susan directed grant programs at The MacArthur Foundation for 13 years; conducted academic research on the causes and consequences of violence for six years; and worked in human services agencies for ten years. She holds master’s and doctoral degrees in human development and social policy from Northwestern University, where she also was a National Science Foundation fellow on race and urban inequality.

Deanna Tillisch

Deanna Tillisch is President & CEO of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), the largest nonprofit of its type in the country.  UPAF raises much-needed dollars for 15 “Member Groups” that deliver world-class performances and nationally recognized arts education throughout the region.  In 2016, UPAF raised a record-setting $12,059,201. Prior to UPAF, Tillisch spent almost two decades at Northwestern Mutual, holding leadership positions in Communications, Marketing and the Foundation.  Tillisch has served as a thought leader in key community initiatives including:  Cultural & Entertainment Capital Needs Task Force, Medical College of Wisconsin’s Women in Science and LISC Strategic Planning Committee. Tillisch received the Women of Distinction Award from the Waukesha County Community Foundation in 2014 and the Women of Influence Award from the Milwaukee Business Journal in 2016.

Jill Van Calster

Jill Van Calster is President and CEO of Wisconsin Philanthropy Network (WPN), Wisconsin’s only statewide association of private foundations, corporate giving programs, community foundations, donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, university and healthcare foundations, and individual philanthropists.  Collectively, WPN’s membership represents over $7 billion in assets and invests over $600 million annually to improve the quality of life for Wisconsin residents.

Mary Lou Young

Mary Lou Young has served as President and CEO of United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County since 2009.  Mary Lou oversaw the merger in 2015 of the former United Ways of Greater Milwaukee and of Waukesha County, creating a combined organization that raised and invested $60 million in 2015 to drive positive social change.  Mary Lou is a nationally acclaimed thought leader who has been invited twice to the White House to share United Way’s successful community collaboration and collective impact models.